Newsletter April 2008

Dear Friend

News

As always, we are confounded by the lack of clarity on the part of Hull Council; first we are told that the subsidy for Hull Screen has been reduced from some £l00,000 to a mere £l0,000 (yes, really!) but later we hear that this is not so, and that in fact the Council is considering other options - such as renting the Cecil cinema!

We think this would be a good venue because of its central location and nearby free parking after 6.00 p.m.; moreover, there is already one screen extant, with projector. There is also a social area and space for two more screens. Apparently the upstairs of the building is in good order.  We do not yet know if this is a definite option, or what the rent might be. Watch this space...

Other possibilities remain, we hope, but we are as yet in the dark as to these.  However, the three Steering Group members who met with Peter Appleton and Mike Lister in February (see previous newsletter) are to meet them again, and possibly Carol Minns, on Tuesday 6th May.  We will report on this meeting in a special newsletter.

Publicity

FHS membership fees are being used primarily for publicity as there is now NO money for this in the Screen's funding.  Thus, payment of fees is crucial.

Other news

We have set up a website:  www.friendsofhullscreen.co.uk  and a dedicated poster for display in various locations is being designed.  If any members could place this in local windows, cafes and other suitable outlets, please let us know.  The poster will be designed with an eye-catching frame, into which the two-monthly programme can be slotted when the schedule changes.

We also hope to have a fortnightly stall in Queen Victoria Square, in the city centre, on Saturdays from 12.00 to 1.30 p.m. approximately, with leaflets and information about the Screen, together with membership forms.  Many shoppers cross the Square at this time, including a lot of young people.  Please let us know if you would like to help on any particular date.  (The first stall was on Saturday 3rd May.)

Pablo González, of the Steering Group, wrote to West Hull MP Alan Johnson about the Screen, and received a positive response.  Sadly, attempts to contact Diana Johnson, with whom we had a very hopeful meeting late last year, have so far been unsuccessful.

Programming

We apologise for the lack of detail about films to be shown in our last Newsletter.  This was because of lack of  funds.  We are intending to remedy this and give details with the film shcedules attached to the newsletter, using increased revenue from membership fees for extra copying and postage costs (half our membership is not on email).

Best wishes to all Friends

Susan Harr and Val Brady – Co-Founders

---

• February 2008
• November 2007
• December 2007

HULL SCREEN FOR WORLD CINEMA